The document describes a study that used the Personal Construct Theory (PCT) to develop a methodology for evaluating player experience in video games. Researchers conducted interviews with 64 students to elicit constructs for describing video games without imposing predetermined categories. This resulted in 570 constructs which were grouped into 23 dimensions that capture how players perceive and evaluate games, such as in terms of ability, dynamism, engagement, and emotion. The dimensions included criteria from professional reviews and academic theories. Players were then asked to rate games based on the dimensions to analyze similarities between genres.

1. Player Experience evaluation: an approach based on the Personal Construct Theory ELIOS Lab F. Bellotti, R. Berta, A. De Gloria, L. Primavera ELIOS Lab, DIBE, University of Genoa [email_address]

8. Similarity VIDEOGAMES Difference VG1 VG2 VG3 VG4 VG5

13. Result: dimensions Name Description W Ability demand The game requires user’s ability in terms of capabilities, skills and cognitive efforts 94 Dynamism The activities in the game space are varied, unexpected and with frequent and quick changes 58 Style The game has a distinctive appearance (modern, old) on the basis also of its genre (a F1 race game should recreate a Grand Prix’ atmosphere) 48 Engagement The game is exciting, challenging, charming, compelling. The player is drawn never to stop the game 38 Emotional affect The game affects the player’s emotional state. It induces anxiety, excitement, and suspense. 35 Likelihood The game situations, 3D reconstructions are very realistic and credible 33

17. Result: Assessing videogame genres